National Youth Speaking and Leadership (NYSL) has trained over 500 secondary school students in the art of public speaking

The National Youth Speaking and Leadership (NYSL) has trained over 500 secondary school students in the art of public speaking.

Speaking during the maiden competition, the organiser, Florence Olumodimu, said this year’s event was aimed at encouraging students to be bolder and level up with required standards during interviews on local and international platforms.

The competition, which was co-organised by the Managing Partner of Web and Work Systems Limited, Victor Ajufoh-Obi, and Association of Private Educators of Nigeria (APEN), also had Oxbridge Tutorial College, Greensprings (Anthony), Temple School, Lead City International School, ST&T Regency College, Queensland Academy and CEDEC International School in attendance.

Greensprings School received the award for prepared speech; Bridge House College for impromptu speech, while Vivian Fowler Memorial College and Childville School received both prepared and impromptu speech awards each.

Olumodimu, who is also a distinguished Toastmaster, said her passion for communication and leadership is the force behind the competition.

“These are young people and we want to get them thinking about how they can be solution providers, making a difference in their community and country instead of complaining. I look forward to training more students and have them teaching their colleagues.”

This ripple effect can help us train about 10,000 students in 10 years,” she added.

Winner of the prepared speech category, Ajetunmobi Morayo from Greensprings School (Lekki), said she was looking forward to winning and she felt accomplished in spite of having limited time to prepare.

“There were two of us from my school that could likely speak and I was finally decided on two days to the event, even though others had a week to prepare. I took note of relevant information and worked diligently on it. I am grateful to my mum for teaching me confidence,” she added.

Her teacher, Shittu Sadiq, praised Morayo for her diligence, perseverance and hard work during the time of training.

Winner of the impromptu speech and First runner-up for the Prepared Speech, Doyinsola Ogunshola, a student of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, expressed her excitement for winning in the two categories and also having the privilege of learning from the other contestants.

Ogunshola said though she wants to be a neuro surgeon, public speaking will give young ones the opportunity to identify and fulfil their purpose in life.

A student of Childville School, Daniel Eta, who was the second runner up in the both categories admitted feeling tensed at some point but was able to overcome it. He said the trainings have aided his communication skills and it would be vital in his career in the future.

“I don’t necessarily see myself having a career in speech presentation, but am aware that it relates to other course of study because at some point you will need to give a speech on something, so public speaking would be embedded in my daily activities,” he added.